Portable radio communication apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention aims at providing a portable radio communication apparatus in which forming of a message is easy. The portable radio communication apparatus is provided with a novel pre-message memory formed of a ROM or the like stored in which are fixed messages each consisting of fixed statements or fixed words as “CALL OFFICE AT XX:XX”. A transmitting message may be readily formed by selecting any of the fixed messages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to portable radio communication apparatussuch as a digital mobile phone having a two-way messagetransmitting/receiving function for use mainly in the filed of mobilecommunication.

2. Description of the Related Art

As an additional function for mobile phones, the SMS (Short MessageService) transmitting function in two-way message transmission isspecified in GSM03.40 of GSM (Global System for Mobile communications)standard of the digital mobile phone standard which constitutes one ofthe European Telecommunications Standards (ETS). The SMS functions totransmit a message of a maximum of 160 characters through a wirelesscircuit in opposite directions.

Construction of a conventional portable radio communication apparatuswill be described below with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20. FIG. 19 is ablock diagram showing the construction of a portable radio communicationapparatus having a conventional two-way message transmitting function.FIG. 20 is a front view showing an external appearance of the portableradio communication apparatus of FIG. 19.

Referring to FIG. 19, the apparatus includes: an antenna 1 fortransmitting/receiving a radio frequency signal; a radio section 2 foreffecting a frequency conversion to a radio frequency or, for example,to an intermediate frequency; a modulator-demodulator section 3operating for example in GMSK (Gaussian Filtered Minimum Shift Keying)modulating/demodulating method; a control section 4 having such as CPU,ROM, RAM for controlling the apparatus as a whole; a message memory 5such as of RAM for temporarily storing a transmitting/received message;an operation section 6; a display section 7 such as of liquid crystal; asound processing section 8; a microphone 9; and a speaker 10.

In FIG. 20, Numerals 6 a, 6 b and 6 c denote a function key section, a10-key section and a volume key, respectively.

Further, in FIG. 20, the function key section 6 a includes: PWR key forperforming switching on/off of power supply; STO key serving as aregistering key for abbreviated dialing phone numbers; FCN key servingas a function key capable of calling various functions by a combinationwith numeral keys; END key for terminating a communication; P keyserving as “one-touch” dialing key for an instant originating of call toalready registered phone numbers; RCL key serving as a calling key forabbreviated dialing phone numbers; CLR key serving as a clearing key;and SEND key serving as a transmitting/receiving key. The 10-key section6 b includes keys for Arabic numerals of 1, 2, 3, 9, 0, an asterisk (*)key and a sharp (#) key, the numeral keys and the like serving also ascharacter keys (A, B, C,) as shown when operating in a character inputmode. However, the numerical key “0” corresponds to an operator call andis incapable of character input.

Operation of the conventional radio communication apparatus will bedescribed below. A received message signal of SMS enters the controlsection 4 for its decoding from the antenna 1 through the radio section2 and modulator-demodulator section 3. It is then displayed as a messageby the display section 7 and may be recorded at the message memory 5 byan operation of the operation section 6.

A transmitting message signal of SMS may be formed by inputting onecharacter at a time by means of the 10-key section 6 b using thealphabet of A, B, C at the 10-key section 6 b while confirming it on thedisplay section 7. Upon a transmitting operation (SEND key) at theoperation section 6, the formed message is encoded at the controlsection 4 and is then transmitted from the antenna 1 through themodulator-demodulator section 3 and radio section 2.

In forming a transmitting message with the conventional portable radiocommunication apparatus as described above, it has been necessary toinput one character at a time through the operation section 6. For thisreason, there is a problem of inconvenience that inputting of onecharacter at a time is required even for the messages which are formedby using identical words.

Another problem is that, since only the English alphabet is indicated onthe operation section 6, inputting by other languages cannot beperformed.

In receiving a message, there is a problem that, while the receivedmessage is read as it is displayed on the display section 7, it isdifficult to be read if the number of characters that may be displayedon the display section 7 is small.

Further, if the receiving side is absent, a problem of inconvenienceoccurs in case of an emergency, since no response will be received bythe party originating the message and no transfer will be made.

Furthermore, there is a problem that it is impossible to find out whenthe message was received or originated, since no function is providedfor concurrently recording the time of receiving and originating at thetime of receiving/transmitting a message.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve the above described problems, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a portable radio communication apparatus in which atransmitting message may be readily formed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a portableradio communication apparatus in which inputting by a language otherthan the English language is possible.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a portableradio communication apparatus in which the content of a received messagemay be easily perceived even when the number of characters that may bedisplayed on a display section is small.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a portableradio communication apparatus in which automatic answering or automatictransferring in case of users absence is possible.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a portableradio communication apparatus in which the time of originating/receivinga call is readily identified.

A portable radio communication apparatus according to the presentinvention comprises:

an antenna for transmitting/receiving a radio frequency message signal;

a radio/modulator-demodulator section for demodulating a received radiofrequency message signal by converting its frequency and for modulatinga transmitting message signal to effect its frequency conversion into aradio frequency;

a message memory for storing transmitting/received messages;

a display section for displaying the transmitting/received messages;

a pre-message memory for previously storing a plurality of fixedmessages;

an operation section; and

a control section for selecting one of the plurality of fixed messagesstored in the pre-message memory by an operation of the operationsection while causing it to be displayed on the display section tocomplete a desired message by adding another message thereto and fortransmitting the desired message.

Accordingly, a desired message may be readily formed.

A portable radio communication apparatus according to the presentinvention comprises:

an antenna for transmitting/receiving a radio frequency message signal;

a radio/modulator-demodulator section for demodulating a received radiofrequency message signal by converting its frequency and for modulatinga transmitting message signal to effect its frequency conversion into aradio frequency;

a message memory for storing transmitting/received messages;

a display section for displaying the transmitting/received messages;

an alphabet memory for previously storing a plurality of alphabets oflanguages;

an operation section; and

a control section for selecting and confirming one of the plurality oflanguage names of the alphabets stored in the alphabet memory whiledisplaying them on the display section by an operation of the operationsection.

Accordingly, a language other than the English language may be used onthe apparatus.

A portable radio communication apparatus according to the presentinvention comprises:

an antenna for transmitting/receiving a radio frequency message signal;

a radio/modulator-demodulator section for demodulating a received radiofrequency message signal by converting its frequency and for modulatinga transmitting message signal to effect its frequency conversion into aradio frequency;

a message memory for storing transmitting/received messages;

a display section for displaying the transmitting/received messages;

a message sound converting data memory for storing information necessaryfor a conversion into sound of a received message;

a sound processing section for outputting from a speaker the receivedmessage which has been converted into a sound;

an operation section; and

a control section for selecting one of the received messages and fortransferring it to the message sound converting data memory by anoperation of the operation section.

Accordingly, the content of a received message may be readily perceived.

A portable radio communication apparatus according to the presentinvention comprises:

an antenna for transmitting/receiving a radio frequency message signal;

a radio/modulator-demodulator section for demodulating a received radiofrequency message signal by converting its frequency and for modulatinga transmitting message signal to effect its frequency conversion into aradio frequency;

a message memory for storing transmitting/received messages;

a display section for displaying the transmitting/received messages;

an automatic answering message memory for storing registered calloriginator IDs and response message corresponding to the IDs;

an operation section; and

a control section for selecting an automatic answering in case of usersabsence by an operation of the operation section and for transmittingthe answering message corresponding to a registered call originator IDwhen a match occurs between a call originator ID in the received messageand the registered call originator ID in the automatic answering messagememory.

Accordingly, it is possible in case of users absence to respond to theparty at the other end of communication.

A portable radio communication apparatus according to the presentinvention comprises:

an antenna for transmitting/receiving a radio frequency message signal;

a radio/modulator-demodulator section for demodulating a received radiofrequency message signal by converting its frequency and for modulatinga transmitting message signal to effect its frequency conversion into aradio frequency;

a message memory for storing transmitting/received messages;

a display section for displaying the transmitting/received messages;

a timer section for measuring the current time; and

a control section for concurrently storing as a reception time data thecurrent time read out from the timer section when storing a receivedmessage to the message memory and for concurrently displaying thereception time data when displaying the received message on the displaysection.

Accordingly, it is easy to know the reception time of a receivedmessage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of a portable radiocommunication apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the construction of a portable radiocommunication apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of Embodiment 2 of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the construction of a portable radiocommunication apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of Embodiment 3 of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the construction of a portable radiocommunication apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of Embodiment 4 of thepresent invention;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the construction of a portable radiocommunication apparatus according to Embodiment 5 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of Embodiment 5 of thepresent invention;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the construction of a portable radiocommunication apparatus according to Embodiment 6 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of Embodiment 6 of thepresent invention;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the construction of a portable radiocommunication apparatus according to Embodiment 7 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of Embodiment 7 of thepresent invention;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the construction of a portable radiocommunication apparatus according to Embodiment 8 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the operation at the time of receiving ofEmbodiment 8 of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the operation at the time of transmittingof Embodiment 8 of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the operation at the time of transmittingof Embodiment 8 of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing the construction of a conventionalportable radio communication apparatus; and

FIG. 20 is a front view showing the external appearance of aconventional portable radio communication apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiment 1

The construction of Embodiment 1 of the present invention will bedescribed below with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagramshowing the construction of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Here,the external appearance of the portable radio communication apparatusaccording to Embodiment 1 is substantially identical to the conventionalapparatus as shown in FIG. 20. The same can be said with respect to allthe embodiments hereinbelow. It should be noted that like numerals inthe drawings denote like or corresponding component parts.

Referring to FIG. 1, a portable radio communication apparatus accordingto Embodiment 1 comprises: an antenna 1 for transmitting/receiving aradio frequency signal; a radio section 2 for effecting a frequencyconversion into a radio frequency or, for example, into an intermediatefrequency; a modulator-demodulator section 3 operating for example inGMSK modulating/demodulating method; a control section 4 having such asCPU, ROM, RAM for controlling the apparatus as a whole; a message memory5 such as of RAM for temporarily storing transmitting/received messages;an operation section 6; a display section 7 such as of liquid crystal; asound processing section 8; a microphone 9; a speaker 10; and apre-message memory 12 for storing fixed messages.

The above operation section 6 includes a function key section 6 a, a10-key section 6 b and a volume key 6 c.

Further, the above described function key section 6 a includes: PWR keyfor performing switching on/off of power supply; STO key serving as aregistering key for abbreviated dialing phone numbers; FCN key servingas a function key capable of calling various functions by a combinationwith numeral keys; END key for terminating a communication; P keyserving as “one-touch” dialing key for an instant originating of call toalready registered phone numbers; RCL key serving as a calling key forabbreviated dialing phone numbers; CLR key serving as a clearing key;and SEND key serving as a transmitting/receiving key. The abovedescribed 10-key section 6 b includes keys for the numerals of 1, 2, 3,9, 0, an asterisk (*) key and a sharp (#) key, the numeric keys and thelike serving also as character keys for an alphabet when operating in acharacter input mode.

The pre-message memory 12 comprises such as a ROM for previously storingfixed messages each consisting of fixed statement or fixed words such as“CALL OFFICE AT XX:XX”.

In Embodiment 1, standardized messages consisting of fixed statements orfixed words which are frequently used in ordinary situations arepreviously stored in the pre-message memory 12. The user can readilyform a desired message by a small number of times of key operation byselecting a fixed message while displaying it on the display section 7by means of an operation of the operation section 6.

Operation of Embodiment 1 will be described below with reference to FIG.2. It should be noted that, since its fundamental operation such as thetwo-way message transmitting/receiving operation is identical to theconventional apparatus and thus will not be described below. The samecan be said to the other embodiments thereafter.

A case will be described below of forming and transmitting, for example,a transmitting message “CALL OFFICE AT 03:00”.

At step 30, upon an operation of the FCN key in the operation section 6,the control section 4 selects “read fixed message” which effects aread-out of fixed messages from the pre-message memory 12. At step 31,the control section 4 sequentially reads out the fixed messages withinthe pre-message memory 12 to the screen of the display section 7 by anoperation of the volume key 6 c in the operation section 6.

At step 32, the control section 4 then selects “CALL OFFICE AT XX:XX”from the fixed messages upon an operation of the END key in theoperation section 6. The control section 4 then at step 33 moves aninput position (cursor position) to the leading position of XX:XX uponan operation of the volume key 6 c in the operation section 6. Thecontrol section 4 at step 34 then inputs 03:00 to XX:XX by an operationof the numeral keys in the operation section. In this manner, a message“CALL OFFICE AT 03:00” is complete at step 35. The control section 4then transmits this message by an operation of the SEND key in theoperation section 6.

The portable radio communication apparatus according to Embodiment 1 hasa two-way message transmitting/receiving function and, in addition, hasthe pre-message memory 12 in which a plurality of character strings arepreviously stored. Since any of the plurality of character strings maybe selected and transmitted as a transmitting message as it is or in apartially added or corrected manner, it is possible to readily form adesired transmitting message.

Embodiment 2

The construction of Embodiment 2 of the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showingthe construction of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, a portable radio communication apparatus accordingto Embodiment 2 comprises: an antenna 1; a radio section 2; amodulator-demodulator section 3; a control section 4; a message memory5; an operation section 6; a display section 7; a sound processingsection 8; a microphone 9; a speaker 10; and a pre-message memory 13formed of a RAM capable of maintaining its content by means of a battery14.

The above operation section 6 includes a function key section 6 a, a10-key section 6 b and a volume key 6 c.

By providing the above described pre-message memory 13, the user is ableto form and register fixed messages (for example a name of company as“MELCO”) of ones own in addition to the previously determined messages,by combining fixed statements or fixed words. A desired message may beformed more readily and with less number of times of key operation.

Operation of Embodiment 2 will now be described with reference to FIG.4. A case will be described below for example of forming a message ofthe company name “MELCO”.

At step 40, the control section 4 selects “message forming” upon anoperation of FCN key. At step 41, when the numeral key “5” is pressedonce, the control section 4 selects the character “M”. Thereafter, atsteps 42 to 45, the control section 4 selects: a character “E” when thenumeral key “2” is pressed two times; a character “L” when the numeralkey “4” is pressed three times; a character “C” when the numeral key “1”is pressed three times; and a character “O” when the numeral key “5” ispressed three times.

In steps 46 to 48, the message “MELCO” is complete and the controlsection 4 registers the message to the pre-message memory 13 by means ofan operation of the END key.

Embodiment 3

The construction of Embodiment 3 of the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showingthe construction of Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, a portable radio communication apparatus accordingto Embodiment 3 comprises: an antenna 1; a radio section 2; amodulator-demodulator section 3; a control section 4; a message memory5; an operation section 6; a display section 7; a sound processingsection 8; a microphone 9; a speaker 10; an alphabet memory 15 formed ofa ROM or the like storing a multi-lingual alphabet; and a languageselection operation key 16.

The above operation section 6 includes a function key section 6 a, a10-key section 6 b and a volume key 6 c. The above described languageselection key 16 may be provided as an addition, for example, to thefunction key section 6 a.

In the conventional apparatus, since only the keys for the Englishalphabet such as the 10-key section 6 b shown in FIG. 20 are provided,its operation may be effected only in the English language. In areassuch as Europe where a multiple of languages are used, however, adifferent alphabetical notation exists for each language and itsselection is required. Provided thus in Embodiment 3 are the alphabetmemory 15 storing a multi-lingual alphabet for the languages of French,German, Russian, Italian, Greek and Latin, and the language selectionoperation key 16. It is thereby possible to readily select any of aplurality of languages.

Operation of Embodiment 3 will be described below with reference to FIG.6.

At step 50, the control section 4 selects “multi-lingual selectionfunction” upon an operation of the language selection operation key 16.At step 51, the control section 4 then selects by an operation of thevolume key 6 c the name of a selected language from the names oflanguages displayed on the screen of the display section 7 as “French,German, Russian, Italian, Greek, Latin”. It is also possible thatselection be made by an operation of the language selection operationkey 16.

Next, at step 52, the control section 4 confirms the selection by anoperation of the END key. At step 53, the section of memorycorresponding to the selected language of the alphabet memory 15 storingthe multi-lingual alphabet is to be used at the time of inputting bycharacter. In other words, when, for example, the Greek language(character) is selected and the numeral key “1” is pressed once, an “α”is displayed on the display section 7 instead of an “A”.

Since, with Embodiment 3, one of the alphabets of a plurality oflanguages may be selected, a language other than the English languagemay be used. It should be noted that, instead of additionally providingthe language selection operation key 16, a combination of existing keysmay be used as the language selection operation key. For example, thelanguage selection operation key may be formed by a combination of FCNkey and numeral keys.

Embodiment 4

The construction of Embodiment 4 of the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showingthe construction of Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, a portable radio communication apparatus accordingto Embodiment 4 comprises: an antenna 1; a radio section 2; amodulator-demodulator section 3; a control section 4; a message memory5; an operation section 6; a display section 7; a sound processingsection 8; a microphone 9; a speaker 10; an alphabet memory 15 formed ofa ROM or the like storing a multi-lingual alphabet; a language selectionoperation key 16; and an alphabet symbol selection key 17.

The above operation section 6 includes a function key section 6 a, a10-key section 6 b and a volume key 6 c. The above described languageselection key 16 and alphabet symbol selection key 17 may be provided asadditions, for example, to the function key section 6 a.

In Embodiment 4, in order to facilitate not only the language selectionbut also the selection of characters of the selected language, thealphabet symbol selection key 17 is provided to make possible a peculiarcharacter selection for each language.

Operation of Embodiment 4 will now be described with reference to FIG.8. A case will be described below for example of forming a Greekcharacter string “αβ7 ”.

At step 60, the control section 4 selects a desired language such as theGreek language by an operation of the language selection operation key16 and then enters “character input mode” by an operation of thealphabet symbol selection key 17. Next, at step 61, the control section4 displays a character string such as “αβ7 . . . ” corresponding to theselected language in a row at the lower portion of the screen frame ofthe display section 7. Next, at step 62, a desired character “α” isselected by an operation of the volume key (cursor key) 6 c. Next, atstep 63, the control section 4 confirms this by an operation of the ENDkey.

Similarly, in steps 64 to 68, the control section 4 selects a desiredcharacter “β” by an operation of the volume key 6 c and confirms it byan operation of the END key. Further, the control section 4 selects adesired character “7” by an operation of the volume key 6 c and confirmsit by an operation of the END key. A Greek character string “αβ7 ” isthus complete. In this manner, characters may be readily selected toform a word or message.

In Embodiment 4, a message of a language other than the English languagemay readily be formed. It should be noted that, instead of additionallyproviding the language selection operation key 16 and alphabet symbolselection key 17, a combination of existing keys may be used as thelanguage selection operation key and alphabet symbol selection key. Forexample, the language selection operation key and alphabet symbolselection key may be formed by a combination of FCN key and numeralkeys.

Embodiment 5

The construction of Embodiment 5 of the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showingthe construction of Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, a portable radio communication apparatus accordingto Embodiment 5 comprises: an antenna 1; a radio section 2; amodulator-demodulator section 3; a control section 4; a message memory5; an operation section 6; a display section 7; a sound processingsection 8; a microphone 9; a speaker 10; an alphabet memory 15 formed ofa ROM or the like storing a multi-lingual alphabet; an alphabet symbolselection key 17; and an IC card interface section 18 capable ofmounting an ID card 19 such as an IC card.

The above operation section 6 includes a function key section 6 a, a10-key section 6 b and a volume key 6 c. The above described alphabetsymbol selection key 17 may be provided as an addition, for example, tothe function key section 6 a. Further, the above described IC cardinterface section 18 may be provided for example on a side or backsurface of the apparatus.

In a system such as GSM using the subscriber ID card 19 in which itshome system is recorded, it is possible to automatically select alanguage based on the nationality of such home system. Therefore, inEmbodiment 5, the IC card interface 18 is provided on the apparatus.

Operation of Embodiment 5 will now be described with reference to FIG.10.

In steps 70 to 71, when the subscriber ID card 19 has been mounted tothe IC card interface section 18, the control section 4 reads out a homesystem information within the subscriber ID card 19 through the IC cardinterface section 18.

Next, at step 72, the control section 4 collates the read home systeminformation by a known home system information versus a nationalitymanagement table which is located within an internal memory. Next, atstep 73, the control section 4 automatically executes a languageselection based on the nationality information obtained by thecollation. The control section 4 then informs the user by the displaysection 7 of the selected language. If, for example, the nationalityinformation is related to Greek, the fact that the Greek language hasbeen selected is displayed on the display section 7. Accordingly, thelanguage of the user who owns the ID card 19 is automatically selected,thereby achieving simpler operation and easier handling of theapparatus.

In Embodiment 5, since a desired language is automatically selected,selecting operation of the language is unnecessary and it is easy toform a message in a desired language.

Embodiment 6

The construction of Embodiment 6 of the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showingthe construction of Embodiment 6 of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, a portable radio communication apparatus accordingto Embodiment 6 comprises: an antenna 1; a radio section 2; amodulator-demodulator section 3; a control section 4; a message memory5; an operation section 6; a display section 7; a sound processingsection 8; a microphone 9; a speaker 10; a message sound converting datamemory 20 for storing necessary information for converting a receivedmessage into a sound; and a message sound output starting key 21.

The above operation section 6 includes a function key section 6 a, a10-key section 6 b and a volume key 6 c. The above described messagesound output starting key 21 may be provided as an addition, forexample, to the function key section 6 a.

If the number of characters which may be displayed on the displaysection 7 is small, it may be difficult to comprehend a receivedmessage. In other words, if the received message is longer than thenumber of characters which may be displayed on the display section 7,for example, when the received message consists of 160 characters whilethe display section is of 20 characters, it is impossible to read theentire message without scrolling the screen. Thus, in Embodiment 6, themessage sound converting data memory 20 is connected to the controlsection 4 and the sound processing section 8.

Accordingly, the control section 4, upon an operation of the messagesound output starting key 21, provides notation data of the receivedmessage stored in the message memory 5 to the message sound convertingdata memory 20. Thereby, as each notation data is converted into a sounddata and is delivered to the sound processing section 8, it isreproduced as a sound message from the speaker 10. It is thus easy toknow the content of the received message even when it is a long message.

Operation of Embodiment 6 will now be described with reference to FIG.12.

At step 80, the control section 4 selects “display received message” byan operation of the FCN key. Next, at step 81, the control section 4selects the received message to be read out from the message memory 5 byan operation of the volume key 6 c. Next, in steps 82 to 83, the controlsection 4, upon an operation of the message sound output starting key21, transfers notation data of the selected received message within themessage memory 5 to the message sound converting data memory 20.

At step 84, the control section 4 converts the notational data into asound data by means of table conversion at the message sound convertingdata memory 20. Next, at step 85, the sound data is decoded by the soundprocessing section 8 and is output from the speaker 10 as a sound.

Embodiment 7

The construction of Embodiment 7 of the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to FIG. 13. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showingthe construction of Embodiment 7 of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 13, a portable radio communication apparatus accordingto Embodiment 7 comprises: an antenna 1; a radio section 2; amodulator-demodulator section 3; a control section 4; a message memory5; an operation section 6; a display section 7; a sound processingsection 8; a microphone 9; a speaker 10; and an automatic answeringmessage memory 22 formed of RAM or the like and storing answeringmessage and/or address for transfer.

The above operation section 6 includes a function key section 6 a, a10-key section 6 b and a volume key 6 c.

If a message has been automatically received in case of users absence,no response will be made to the party at the other end of communicationthough the received message is stored to the message memory 5. Thus, inEmbodiment 7, the automatic answering message memory 22 is provided,which stores answering message and/or transfer address corresponding toID.

If a match occurs upon a collation between the ID in a received messageand a destination ID for each answering message stored in the automaticanswering message memory 22, the control section 4 automatically answersby reading out the answering message. Further, by storing a transferaddress to the automatic answering message memory 22 instead of ananswering message, the received message may be automaticallytransferred.

Operation of Embodiment 7 of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to FIG. 14.

At step 90, upon an operation of the FCN key, the control section 4selects “automatic answering message forming function”. Next, at step91, the control section 4 forms an answering message or transfer addressby an operation of the numeral keys, etc. Next, at step 92, by anoperation of the numeral keys, etc., the control section 4 inputs aregistered call originator ID to which a designated answering isdesired. Next, at step 93, the control section 4 stores the formedanswering message or transfer address and the relevant registered calloriginator ID to the automatic answering message memory 22 by anoperation of the END key.

At step 94, upon an operation of the FCN key, the control section 4selects “automatic answering in case of users absence” by which anautomatic response is made when the user is absent. Next, in steps 95 to96, upon receiving a message, the control section 4 collates the calloriginator ID in the received message with the registered calloriginator ID in the automatic answering message memory 22.

At step 97, if the IDs match each other, the control section 4 reads outthe relevant answering message from the automatic answering messagememory 22 and automatically transmits it to the originating party of theabove message. Alternatively, if the transfer address is registered, thecontrol section 4 transfers the received message to the transferaddress.

At step 98, if the IDs do not match, the control section 4 does noteffect an automatic answering. Also, no transferring will be made.

In Embodiment 7, since an answering message and call originator ID towhich the answering is designated are stored to the automatic answeringmessage memory 22, it is possible in case of users absence to respond tothe party at the other end of communication. Further, since a transferaddress and call originator ID for designating an answering operationare stored to the automatic answering message memory 22, the user of theapparatus is able to know the content of a message even when he/she isabsent.

Embodiment 8

The construction of Embodiment 8 of the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to FIG. 15. FIG. 15 is a block diagram showingthe construction of Embodiment 8 of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 15, a portable radio communication apparatus accordingto Embodiment 8 comprises: an antenna 1; a radio section 2; amodulator-demodulator section 3; a control section 4; a message memory5; an operation section 6; a display section 7; a sound processingsection 8; a microphone 9; a speaker 10; and a timer section 23 formeasuring the current time.

The above operation section 6 includes a function key section 6 a, a10-key section 6 b and a volume key 6 c.

In Embodiment 8, by providing the timer section 23, it is possible torecord a received message together with its reception time, toautomatically insert time of transmitting operation into thetransmitting message and/or to automatically transmit it at a certainpoint in time.

Operation of Embodiment 8 of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to FIGS. 16 to 18.

First, the case will be described below of recording the receivedmessage together with its reception time.

In steps 100 to 101, upon a reception of message, the control section 4reads out the current time from the timer section 23. Next, at step 102,the control section 4 concurrently stores the above read out currenttime when storing the received message to the message memory 5. Next, atstep 103, the control section 4 displays the concurrently stored currenttime data as a reception time data when displaying the received messageon the screen of the display section 7. Accordingly, the reception timeof a received message may readily be seen and recorded.

Next, the case will be described below of automatically inserting thetime of transmitting operation into a transmitting message.

In steps 110 to 114, the control section 4 forms a message by anoperation of the FCN key, character key, etc., and, upon pressing of theSEND key, it reads the current time out from the timer section 23. Next,the control section 4 inserts the above read out current time data intothe transmitting message. The control section 4 then transmits thetransmitting message through the modulator-demodulator section 3 andradio section 2. Accordingly, the transmitting time of a transmittingmessage may readily be seen and recorded.

Further, the case will be described of automatically transmitting amessage at a designated time.

In steps 120 to 122, upon operation of the FCN key, numeral (character)keys, etc., the control section 4 forms a transmitting message and atthe same time designates a point in time at which the message is to betransmitted. The control section 4 stores to the message memory 5 thetransmitting message and the designated time for transmission by anoperation of the END key. Next, in steps 123 to 125, the control section4 periodically reads the current time out from the timer section 23.Next, the control section 4 effects a collation so as see if the readout current time data matches the designated time for transmission inthe message memory 5. When a match occurs, it transmits the relevanttransmitting message through the modulator-demodulator section 3 andradio section 2. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a failure inremembering to send a message.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable radio communication apparatuscomprising: an antenna for transmitting/receiving a radio frequencymessage signal; radio/modulator-demodulator means for demodulating areceived radio frequency message signal by converting its frequency andfor modulating a transmitting message signal to effect its frequencyconversion into a radio signal; message memory means for storingtransmitting/received messages; display means for displaying saidtransmitting/received messages; message sound converting data memorymeans for storing information necessary for the conversion into a soundof said received messages; sound processing means for outputting saidreceived messages in their form being converted into sounds; operationmeans; control means for selecting and transferring any of said receivedmessages to said message sound converting data memory means by anoperation of said operation means.
 2. A portable radio communicationapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said operation means includes: aFCN key capable of calling various functions; a volume key; and amessage sound output starting key; and wherein said control means:selecting a received message display mode by an operation of said FCNkey; sequentially displaying on said display means and selecting any ofa plurality of received messages stored in said message memory means byan operation of said volume key; and converting said selected receivedmessage into a sound data based on table conversion of said messagesound converting data memory means by an operation of said message soundoutput starting key, said sound data being decoded by said soundprocessing means and being output as sounds.